syria @ - @ lebanon campaign against the vichy french . resistance was stronger than expected ; australians were involved in most of the fighting and sustained most of the casualties before the french cap ##it ##ulated in early july . the majority of australian units in the mediterranean returned to australia in early 1942 , after the outbreak of the pacific war . the 9th division was the largest unit to remain in the middle east , and played a key role in the first battle of el alam ##ein during june and the second battle of el alam ##ein in october . the division returned to australia in early 1943 , but several raaf squadrons and ran warships took part in the subsequent tunisia campaign and
syria @ - @ lebanon campaign against the vichy french. resistance was stronger than expected ; australians were involved in most of the fighting and sustained most of the casualties before the french capitulated in early july. the majority of australian units in the mediterranean returned to australia in early 1942, after the outbreak of the pacific war. the 9th division was the largest unit to remain in the middle east, and played a key role in the first battle of el alamein during june and the second battle of el alamein in october. the division returned to australia in early 1943, but several raaf squadrons and ran warships took part in the subsequent tunisia campaign and